Circuit-controlling device.



J. 0. HEINZE. @mouw coNTRoLLlNG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 8, I95. 1,208,961. Patented De@.19,1916.

3 SHEETSF-SHEET mb MW floznuy l. 0. HEINZE.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED Dic. 8, 1915.

1 ,208,961 Patented Deo. 19, 1916.

J. 0l HEINZE.

CIRCUIT CONTHOLLING DEVlCE.,

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8. 1915.

1 208,961. Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JOHN O. HEINZE, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHN O. HEINZE COMPANY,

OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

'useful Improvements in Circuit-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in controlling mechanism for electric circuits,

Ythe mechanism being more particularly adapted for controlling the lighting, ignition and starting circuits for motor vehicles employing internal combustion engines for the motive power.

An object of the invention is to providea controlling mechanism which will be compact in form so as to bring the operating devices for the same at a common point in convenient reach of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character referred to in which but a single operating device is employed for establishing the diierent lighting and ignition circuits, having associated therewith and controlled thereby an operating device for the starting circuit.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the starting operating device is locked against operation under certain conditions, such for instance as when the vehicle is at rest with the ignition ofi' and with the lights either out entirely or dimmed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the operating devices for the lighting and ignition circuits may be locked against operation in certain positions of the same.

A further object of the invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of mechanism of this character and also to make more effective the operation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the lock for the operating device for the lighting and ignition circuits, showing the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 2, that is, in unlocked position. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing the' locking devices for the vlated supports and some of the circuits.

' starter operating device. Fig. 5 is a section \-show1ng the parts of Fig. 4 in a different position. Fig. 6 1s a perspective view of one of the parts of the locking devices for the starter operating rod. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the distributer, one of the insu- Fi 8 is an end view of the distributer, the wipergs for the same and the central insulated support. Fig. 9 is a side view of the distributer. eFig. 10 is a view of the opposite end of the distributer from that shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the distributer. Fig. 12 is a section on the line v12-12 of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the periphery of the distributer. Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the various circuits including the distributer and electrical sources. Fig. 15 is a rear elevation of the central partition showing the contacts for the generator switch. Fig. 16 is a front elevation of the rear wall of the casing showing the contacts for the starter switch.

The parts of the machanism are inclosed by a cylindrical casing 1, having a circular front plate 2 and a rear wall composed of two disks 3 of insulating material and a metallic disk 4 inclosed between the disks 3 to lend strength thereto; the disk 4, however being of smaller diameter than the disks 3 so as to be out of contact with the casing 1. There is also provided a centrally arranged partition consisting of a series of disks 5 of insulating materials and an interposed metallic strengthening disk 6 of less diameter than the disks 5 so as to be out of contact with the casing l. Rods la and spacing sleeves 1b serve to connect the parts and hold the same in spaced relation.v The casing is preferably inserted througlran openingin the dash 7 of the vehicle with the plate 2 on and secured to the drivers side thereoij The rear end of the sleeve w incensi body of which is formed ot a disk 12 of insulating material in which is a contact member consisting ot' a circular ring 13 extending about the rear end ot the disk 12, a portion 14 which extends substautially, in the present case. three-fifths ofthe way about the rear pottion ot the periphery of the disk 12. and an extension 15 on the portion 14 which projects to the forward end of the disk 12; the contact parts being all preferably constructed integrally.

Arranged about the distributer with their free ends in Contact therewith is a series of spring wipers 16, 17, 18 and 19 four of which are employed in the present case. These wipers are connected to and supported by blocks 20 which project forwardly from the central partition ot' the casing so as to bring the free ends of the wipers in the plane of the distributer; the wiper 16, however, lying in a different plane from the other wipers; the wiper 16 being in the same plane as the contact portion 14 of the distributer while the wipers 17, 18 and 19 are in the same plane as the contact extension 15 of the distributor. A U-shaped wiper or conductor 21 (Figs. 7 and 8), supported from the central partition, is constantly in contact with the ring 13 of the distributer and is connected by wires 22, 23 and 24 to a storage battery 25 and generator 26, respectively, so as to furnish current to the distributor. (See Fig. 14.)

rlhe wiper 16 is for the ignition, a wire 27 connecting the wiper with the ignition devices. The wipers 17, 18 and 19 are for furnishing current to the lights, represented by 28. The wiper 17 is connected to the lights b v wire 29, resistance 30, wire 31 and wire 32. The wiper 18 is connected to the .lights by wire 32. Wiper 19 is connected to the lights by wire 33, wire 29, resistance 30, wire 31 and wire 32. The other side of the lights are connected to ground by the wire 34.

I n the Oft' position of the main operating lever 9, all of the wipers rest upon the disk 12.` Assuming now that the lever is moved tothe right, to the position corresponding to Lights oii, Ign. on,V the wiper 16 willride into the'recess 14EL formed in the end of the contact portion 14 and establish a circuit to the' ignition devices. Recesses 12a are also preferably formed in the insulated part of the distributer within which the other wipers 17, 18 and 19 drop for the purpose of yieldably holding the disl tributer in the dierent operative positions; that -being the primary purpose of all of the recesses. A

1f the main operating lever is now moved to the next position, correspondingl to Ign. on, Lights dim, the wiper 17 will drop into the recess 15av in the contact extension .15 and establish a circuit to the lights through the resistance 30, at the same time the wiper 16 will have kept its contact with the contact portion 14 so as to maintain the circuit to the ignition devices, this wiper now resting in the recess 14D. lt the operating handle 9 is now moved to the next position corresponding to lgn. on, Lights bright,7 the wiper 18 will next drop into the recess 15n of the contact portion 15 and establish a circuit to the lights through the wire 32 as before explained, and as before the wiper 16 will ride about thecontact portion 14 to still maintain the circuit with the ignition dropping into the recess 14. Assuming now that the main operating lever is thrown to the next position, which corresponds to Lights dim, Ign. off, the wiper 19 will drop into the recess 15 of the contact portion 15 and establish the circuit before (lescribed through the resistance 30 to the lights for the purpose of dimming the lights, but the wiper 16 will now have ridden oit the contact portion 14 onto the disk 12 and destroyed the circuit to the ignition devices. 1f the main operating lever is now thrown to the Off position which corresponds to the position of the lever shown in Figs. 1 and 2, all of the wipers will be resting on the disk 12 and all circuits thus broken.

Slidably mounted in the sleeve 10 is a rod 35 which constitutes the starter operating device, the rod being provided with a head 35 to provide a convenient means for grasping it. The rod extends through an aperture 36 in the central partition and on the rear side of the partition is provided with a switch consisting of two contact members 37 and 38 (Fig. 2) which are mounted upon a sleeve 39 of insulating material and clamped between a flange on said sleeve and a nut 40 threaded on the said rod 35; washers 41 being preferably inserted between the nut and the member 37 and also between the sleeve 39 and a shoulder on the rod so as to irmlyclamp the parts in position; the washer adjacent the switch member 37 being of insulating material to insulate the switch members from the rod 35. Each of the Contact members 37 and 38 is of a cupshape, with the-walls of the cup slotted so as to form in effect a series of contact points. The member 38 is normally held in contact with two conductor plates 42 and 43 on the rear side of the central partition (Fig. 15) which are iii-electrical connection by ccnductors 44 with binding posts 45 (one of each of which is shown in Fig. 2) on the rear` sileof the end wall of the casing. A wire 45 .connects one of the contact plates 42 with the generator and a wire 46 connects 'the' other plate 43 with the battery so that ipos'es; a spring '47 interposed between the iso nut 40 and the rear end of a housing 48 secured in an aperture in the rear Wall of the main casing, serving to normally hold the switch member 38 in contact with the plates 42 and 43.

For starting purposes there is provided on the forward side of the rear wall two conductor plates 49 and 50 (Fig. 16) with which the switch member 37 makes contact when the rod 35 is pushed in against the tension of the spring 47. These contact plates are in electrical communication with binding posts on the rear wall of the main casing, one of which 49 is shown in Fig. 2. One of the contact plates 50 is connected by wire 51 and wire 46 with the battery, and the other conductor plate 49 is connected by wire 52 with the motor 53, the motor being connected to the battery-by the wire 54. It will be noted that the first movement of the push rod 'breaks the contact between the switch member 38 and the contact plates 42 and 43 so as to break the circuit between the generator and the battery; this circuit being immediately automatically reestablished so soon as pressure is removed from `he push rod.

Means are provided for automatically locking the starter push rod when the operating lever 9 is in either the Off position or Lights dim Ign. oif position and for automatically unlocking the same when the lever 9 is thrown to any of the Ign. on, positions. Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the rod 35 is provided with a recessed portion 55 which extends about the entire periphery of the same. In line with this recessed portion is a pocket 56 in the sleeve 10 in which is located a ball 57, the ball being of a diameter substantially equal to the'combined depth of the pocket and recess. Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6 it will be seen that the bushing 11 has a series of recesses 58, three in number, in the present case, so disposed that whenever the operating lever is turned to any one of the Ign. on positions, the pocket 56 will be brought in registry with one of these recesses 58 so that if the starter push rod is forced inwardly the ball 57 will be allowed to move out of the path of the forward wall of the recess 55 and `thus unlock the rod. Whenever, however, the operating lever is in any of the other positions, the solid wall of the bushing will be presented to the ball and thus lock the rod. Means are also provided for locking the main operating lever 9 in either the Off position or the Lights dim, Ign. off position. Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the rear side ofthe lever 9 is provided witha recess or chamber 59. Secured to the lever 9 vand projecting upwardly into this chamberfisa Spring arm 60 having its free upper end provided with a but* ton 61 which will normally spring into a recess 62 in the plate 2, one of these recesses beingr located at each of the Off and Lights dim` Ign. off position. A revoluble thimble 63 in the lever 9 receives a key 64 the inner end of which extends through abifurcated portion of the spring arm 60 and has a beveled projection 65, which when the key'is turned engages one of the sides of the bifurcated portion of the spring arm, which4 is bent or inclined rearwardly as indicated at 66, so that the spring arm will be cammed forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3 and thus unlock the lever 9. When the key is again turned to the position shown in Fig. 1 or removed entirely the spring arm 60 will automatically throw the button 6l into one of the recesses 62 when brought in registry therewith to lock the lever 9 in that positio Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

1. In an electric controlling mechanism, a plurality ofelectrical circuits, a main operating device arranged to be set at different positions to control said circuits, a second series of circuits, a second operating device associated with said main operating device for controlling said second series of circuits, means for locking said main operating device in certain positions of the same, and means controlled by said main operating device for locking said second operating device in certain operative pos1t1ons of said main operating device and for unlocking said second operating device in certain other operative positions of said main operating device.

2. In an electric controlling mechanism, for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a main operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits, and a second operating device for controlling the starter motor circuit, means for locking said main operating device-in certain of its positions, and means controlled by said main operating device for locking said starter operating device in certain operative positions of said main device and for unlocking said starter operating device in certain other operative positions of sald main operating device.

3. In amechanism for controlling the electric circuits of motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a main operating lever f or controlling the lighting and ignition circuits, a push rod for controlling the starter motor circuit, means for locking said lever in certain positions thereof, and means controlled by the movement of said lever for locking said rod in certain operative positions of said lever and for unlocking said rod in certain other operative positions of said lever.

4. In a controllingmechanism for electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a main operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits arranged to be set to certain positions, in some of which the ignition circuit is closed and in some open,- a starter operating device for closing the circuit for the starting motor, and means controlled by said main operating device for locking said starter operating device when .the ignition circuit is open.

5. In a controlling mechanism for electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a main operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits, a revoluble operating device arranged to be set to dii'erent positions to control the lighting and ignition circuits, in some of which positions the ignition circuit is open and in some closed, a push rod for controlling the starting circuit associated with said revoluble device, and means controlled by said revoluble device for locking said push rod when the ignition circuit is open and for unlocking said push rod When the ignition circuit is closed.

6. ln a controlling mechanism for electric circuits, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial having characters indicating said circuits, a revoluble member movable about said dial for controlling the circuits indicated on said dial, a starter motor for the circuits, a spring-pressed slidable member associated with said revoluble member for controlling said starter motor circuit, and means operated by said revoluble member for controlling the movement of said slidable member.

7. ln a mechanism. for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial having characters indicating said circuits, a revoluble member movable about said .dial for controlling the circuit indicated thereon, a starter motor circuit, a starter operating device for controlling said starter circuit, and means operated by said revoluble member for controlling said starter operating device.

8. ln a mechanism for controlling electric circuits forl motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial having characters thereon indicating said circuits, a revoluble member movable about said dial for controlling the circuits indicated thereon, a starter motor circuit, a starter push rod slidably mounted in the axis of said revoluble member for controlling said starter motor circuit, and means controlled by said revoluble member for locking and unlocking said push rod according to the position of said revoluble member about said dial.

9. ln a mechanism for controlling electric circuits, a plurality of electrical circuits, a main operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits, a second operating device associated With said main operating device for controlling the starting gen-l .neer-iper erator and battery circuits, and means operated by said main operating device forcontrolling said second operating device.

10. ln a mechanism for controlling electric 'circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial plate, a crank arm having a sleeve or hub journaled in said plate, a distributer connected with said sleeve to control certain of said circuits determined by the position of said crank arm, an operating rod journaled in said sleeve, and an electric switch connected with said rod independent of said distributer.

12. ln a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial plate, a crank arm having a hub journaled in said plate, a distributer connected tosaid hub for controlling the light and ignition circuits, a starter operating rod slidably mounted in said hub, and a switch for the starter motor connected with said rod.

13. In a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial plate, a crank arm having a hub journaled in said plate, a distributer connected Withsaid .hub for controlling the light and ignition circuits, a springpressed rod slidably mounted insaid hub, and switches connected with said rod independent of said distributer for controlling the battery and generator circuits.

14. ln a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial plate, a crank arm having a hub journaled in said plate', a distributer connected With said hub for Jurnishing current to lighting and ignition circuits, an operating rod slidably mounted in said hub, switches connected With said rod for controlling the 'motor battery and-generator circuits, means controlled by said crank arm for locking and unlocking said operating rod, and means for locking said crank arm in certain of its positions.

1.5. In a mechanism for controlling electric circuits Jfor motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial plate, a crankarm having a hub journaled in said plate, a distributer connected with said hub, a spring pressed operating rod liournaled in said hub, said hub having a pocket and said rod having a peripheral recess in line with said pocket and la ball in said pocket and recess,

ioo

said plate being provided with a series of recesses with which said pocket is adapted to be brought in registry in certain positions of said crank arm.

16. In a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a dial lplate having a centrally arranged. opening, a bushing in said opening connected with said plate, a crank arm having a sleeve or hub, and a spring pressed circuit controlling rod slidably mounted in saidsleeve or hub, said sleeve or hub having a pocket and said rod a peripherall groove coinciding with said pocket and a ball in said pocket and groove, said bushing having a series of recesses with which said pocket and ball coincide in certain positions of said crank arm.

17. In a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, a plurality of electrical circuits, a revoluble operating device slidably mounted in the hub portion of said revoluble device, two switch members on said slidable operating device, a spring for normally holding one of said members in position to close the circuit between the gen erator and the battery, and contacts for the other switch member for closing the circuit between the battery and motor when said slidable device is moved against the tension of the springs. 18. In a mechanism for controlling electric circuits for motor vehicles, 'a plurality of electrical circuits, a revoluble operating device for controlling the lighting and ignition circuits, a second operating device slidably mounted in the h'ub portion of said revoluble device, two switch members on said slidable operating device7 a spring` for normally holding one of said members in position to close the circuit between the generator and the battery, contacts or the other switch member for closing the circuit between the battery and motor when said slidable device is moved against the tension of the spring, and means whereby the operation of said slidable device is controlled by said revoluble device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of December, 1915.

JOHN O. HEINZE. VVitnesses':

WM. PFLUM, CHAs. I. WELCH. 

